LETTERS FROM THE PAST

This blog is to honor those who have come before us. These are family letters that I have had for years and wanted to be able to share them with family. It's an interesting way of knowing how life was in the past.

Myron F Taylor with 3 of his buddies in 1952. Over the last 20 years I've been working on our family letters. Letters that have been passed down. Including letters from my parents to my great-grandmother. Every letter was saved by my great grandmother and grandmother. I hope someday to either print them or give them to a museum. I am copying the letters–not being able to photocopy all of them. Each letter is in script. I know today very few can read them. I hope you enjoy them.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

September 27, 1870 - Phebe

September 27, 1870

Dear Rosa, 

I am perplexed beyond expression at not hearing from you and am going to make one more effort before giving up in utter despair. The last word I have had from you is a note that came about three weeks ago, and in which you wondered why I did not write and said that two or three weeks previous you had written me a long letter – two sheets full.

I answered your note immediately and told you I had not received your letter and now for more than a week have confidently expected a letter from you each mail day only to be more sadly disappointed at the dreaded words “no letter from Rosa.”  Doubtless you were surprised and perhaps disappointed at finding the writer of this letter is not he whorn (?) you would have guessed from the address on the envelope, but I thought I would resort to a little strategy this time and coaxed Boston to write the address for me and if in consequence you were greatly disappointed on opening the letter. I trust owing to the peculiar circumstances you will excuse me “for this once,” you know.

I believe I told you in the last that my sister had come home, quiet unexpectedly to us, on a visit. She spent a week with us and during her visit we received a still greater surprise, in the person of a cousin who came totally unexpected from Pennsylvania. He is with us yet but I do not know how long he will remain as he is now waiting to hear from a friend with whom he came, and who has gone to Washington Co. He may go home soon and he may stay a year in the west.

My school closed last Saturday so I am once more at home for a little while at last and possibly all winter. I think I should enjoy the prospect of spending the winter at home rather more if we could have a few more real good young people here, and if I could, I think I would have. Rosa back first of all just for my own personal gratification and – to let you see how very selfish I am – I would also take it upon me to decree – well I hardly know how the decree would go forth – but in short, I would pict (?) a note on any attempt of certain gentleman to monopolize her society for more than one day in a month, but I am more than half afraid that this same Rosa has been ensnared but the ever youthful Cupid in consequence  of which her Iowa friends will soon be either forgotten or ignored, and their long cherished hope of receiving a visit from her “dashed to the ground.”

I expect to go to spend a few days with my sister the latter part of next week and I most earnestly hope that you will contribute to the enjoyment of my visit by giving me the satisfaction of reading a good long letter from you before I go.  Boston and I have been disputing as to whether you spell your last name Morehead or Moorhead. Please inform us which is right.

I have been looking over this letter, and shant he greatly surprised if you consider it too foolish to be worth answering. Ebenezer had a letter from Louise last Sat in which she said that her father was so low that they were afraid every hour would be his last.

With warmest love, I remain,
Hopefully Your Friend,
Phebe


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